CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Walking out of the kitchen, Melina hears someone giggling and whispering or trying to. She recognizes the voice as Serena’s and can hear her speaking to someone. The other voice sounds male and familiar, but she can’t place it.
“Stop it; someone might see us,” Serena says. Melina detects playfulness in her voice. Is Serena flirting with someone? Melina had no idea she was interested in anyone in the house.
“I don’t care if they see us. I don’t mind if the whole world knows we are together,” the male voice says.
Melina hides to avoid interfering with their sweet moment. The scene before her is so lovely. Leo is looking down at Serena, who is fiddling with her fingers. Leo looks fascinated by Serena, and even though Melina can’t see Serena’s eyes, the blush on her face tells her she likes him too. They look so cute together.
“You should go back; Sotto capo might start wondering where you are,” Serena says. She puts her little hand on his chest and tries to push him away from her.
“He knows where I am, so he won’t be looking for me anytime soon; stop pushing me away. I don’t fucking mind if anyone sees us.” Leo wraps his hands around her waist and pulls her closer to him.
“But you know what will happen if the others find out. I can’t stand being hated even more than I already am.”
“That’s why we should let everyone know about us. Perhaps they will stop bothering you.”
“I thought of that, but it might not work out that way.”
“We have to try at least principessa. I really like you, and I want everyone to know.”
“I like you too,” Serena says, blushing profusely. Leo seals his lips with hers. Unconsciously, the words aww leave Melina’s lips and cause them to break apart. Serena pushes Leo away from her upon hearing Melina.
“Please don’t stop because of me. You guys make one hell of a cute couple,” Melina says as she comes out of the shadows and walks towards them.
“Please don’t tell anyone, Mel. Please, I beg you.” Serena grabs her hand, pleading.
“I won’t. You don’t have to beg me.” Patting Serena’s hand, Melina gives her an assuring smile. Melina doesn’t know why she feels the need to keep her relationship with Leo a secret, but she will keep her secret regardless.
“Thank you so much,” she squeaks as she hugs Melina.
“You’re welcome,” Melina hugs her back.
She pulls away and turns to Leo. “I can’t hurt you, but I know someone who can, and if you dare hurt Serena, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life,” she says. Serena is like a little sister to her. They have formed a good relationship these past few weeks. Melina will be damned if she lets someone hurt her. Melina knows she’s in no position to make such a threat giving her relationship with Thomas, but as she said, she knows someone who will take care of Leo if he hurts Serena. The same person she can bet will be there for her if she gets into trouble with Thomas.
“You don’t have to threaten me, Melina. Serena means the world to me,” Leo says, kissing her forehead.
“You guys are so cute,” Melina exclaims, gushing over them. Serena is very short, and Leo is a six-foot-tall man. If she’s correct, Serena is five-three. Seeing him gaze at her with so much affection in his eyes and seeing Serena blush makes her tingly on the inside. She loves cute couples.
“What is going on here?” A voice Melina is very familiar with says from across the hallway. Leo moves to the side, revealing Thomas standing a few feet away. The smile on her face fades quickly.
THOMAS
Thomas’ hands freeze in the air when he hears someone giggling downstairs. Thomas looks up from his phone and down to see who is laughing. Thomas’ gaze is drawn to the woman who was once the most amazing woman in his life. His heart tightens as he realizes it's been months since he's seen or heard that smile or giggle. Unconsciously, his thoughts return to the times when that smile would brighten his day. Thomas clenches his fists as he watches her gush over Leo and Serena. He hates that smile of hers more than anything else right now. Staring at it makes him want to rip it off her face, as it causes him heartache. He’s furious he fell for that smile of hers.
Thomas’ footsteps are hard against the floor as he takes the steps down. Melina’s attention is on the cute couple in front of her so she doesn’t notice him walking down the stairs towards them.
“What is going on here,” Thomas inquires as he approaches the trio.
Thomas watches the color drain from Melina’s face at the sound of his voice. His heart swells, watching fear build in her eyes. It’s only been a few minutes since he faced fucked her. She must still be tense about it. He smirks; this is the only emotion Thomas wants Melina to feel. He wants her to feel only fear, just as he feels only pain and anger when she’s around him. Thomas does not want her to be happy ever again in this life for what she did to him. He wants her to suffer as much as he will as a result of her betrayal.
“Sir,” Leo says, causing Thomas to break eye contact with Melina.
“Get the car ready,” Thomas speaks to Leo in Italian.
“Okay, sir,” Leo says. He kisses Serena’s cheeks before walking away from her to do what Thomas asks.
Thomas walks towards the front door and waits for Leo to bring the car around. Once the vehicle is parked in front of him, Thomas gets in and asks Leo to take him to the office. His brother has asked to see him. As Leo drives to the office, Thomas hopes that his brother will not ask him to sell Melina again today. He doesn’t want to fight his brother over her again. He feels she isn’t worth fighting his brother over.
♦♦♦
Melina lets out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she watches Thomas walk towards the front door rather than toward her.
“Is everything okay, Mel? You look like you saw a ghost,” Serena asks, placing her arm on Melina’s arm.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Melina says. She pats her armand smiles to calm her down.
“That’s good to hear. Are you done working?”
“Not yet, you?”
“Yes.”
“Do you mind helping me?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Thank you.” “Let’s go to Thomas’ office. I left all my cleaning supplies there,” Melina leads the way to his office.
“Oh, alright”
“So, I wanted to wait till Leo left to ask you a question.”
“What would you like to ask me?”
“Why don’t you want anyone to know you guys are together? I think it would be wise to let people know. Maybe all those scary men would finally leave you alone.”
“I know if they knew we were together, they would, but the ladies might not be happy about it.”
“Which ladies?” When they arrive at Thomas' office, Melina waits for Serena to walk in before she does.
“The other maids despise me because my mom and I receive preferential treatment from Sotto capo. If they find out that the most desirable man among Sotto capo's men is dating me, they will despise me even more and make my life even more miserable than it is."
“Can’t Thomas do something to help?” Melina asks, grabbing the cleaning supplies and walking to the door with them. Serena helps her with some things.
“If I tell him, it will make matters worse for me.”
“Hmm, I understand. You two look great together. I bet it’s killing Leo that no one knows.”
“Was it that obvious?” Serena asks, biting her lower lip.
“Yes, it was. If you don’t mind me asking, how long have you two been dating.”
“Six months,” she says. Serena and Melina climb the stairs to Thomas’ room to clean it.
“Six months, and you guys have kept it a secret, wow.” Melina’s mouth forms a big O as she says the words ‘wow.’ Melina’s mind unintentionally drifts back to where she was six months ago. Her eyes well up with tears as she recalls one of the worst tragedies of her life, happened six months ago.
“Melina,” Serena calls, bringing her back to earth.
“Sorry, what were you saying?” Melina wipes a tear that fell from her eyes without knowing. Her heart breaks every time she remembers what happened six months ago.
“I was saying that up until today, we had done an excellent job concealing it.” “Leo got a little carried away.”
“Leo must really like you to agree to keep your relationship a secret for this long.”
“Yes, he does,” Serena admits, blushing.
“God, I remember when I was like you. I’d even blush at just the mention of his name”
“"Are you referring to your time with Sotto capo?" "I thought you didn't like him."
“That’s what everyone believes, but I fell hard for him.” Melina didn't mind that Serena didn't believe her feelings for Thomas were genuine. She knows it will take a lot of convincing to get anyone to believe her. Mrs. Costanzo only believes her because she knows why Melina betrayed Thomas.
“That’s hard to believe, considering you approached him to steal his money.”
“I know, and that’s why I don’t bother telling him I do.”
“Do you still love him?” Melina notices Serena's surprise as she asks her this
“Yes, I do.”
“If you really do, that would be amazing.”
“I guess so, but enough talk about love. Let’s get to work.”
“Yeah.”